TWO North-East towns have the highest youth unemployment in the country, a report claims.

Middlesbrough and Stockton were ranked top of a youth unemployment table prepared by The Work Foundation.

The Lancaster University-based organisation's report, The Geography Of Youth Unemployment - A Route Map For Change, claims that unemployment rates for 16 to 24-year-olds in the two towns is more than 25 per cent.

Loading article content

In contrast, York was found to have the second lowest youth unemployment in the country at less than 13 per cent.

The study recommends that town and cities reduce their rates by ensuring that local services work together more effectively.

The paper argues that without effective, targeted action from national and local government, businesses, and educators, a generation of young people in these cities will face a bleak future in the labour market.

Commenting on the paper, Lizzie Crowley, head of youth unemployment programmes at The Work Foundation, said: “Urgent action is needed to ensure young people get the right support to either continue in school, further training or with getting a job.”

Commenting on the report, Stockton Council leader Councillor Bob Cook said it was a “nonsense that the youth unemployment rate in Stockton was the highest in the country".

He added: “It is actually the second lowest in the Tees Valley and is also below the regional average.

Share article

“That said, we know that the current economic climate has made it tough for young people to get a foothold on the career ladder.

“We are determined to help which is why our children and young people select committee is in the final stages of an in depth scrutiny review looking at how education and business can work together to make sure that learning provision matches local industry need.”

Promoted Stories

Comments (1)

It would appear that The Work Foundation has almagated Stockton and Middlesbrough within the report. This seems to be for comparative purposes. However, any leader of a council should read the research recommendation as youth unemployment across the sub-region is high and needs addressing.

It would appear that The Work Foundation has almagated Stockton and Middlesbrough within the report. This seems to be for comparative purposes. However, any leader of a council should read the research recommendation as youth unemployment across the sub-region is high and needs addressing.sfmurphy

It would appear that The Work Foundation has almagated Stockton and Middlesbrough within the report. This seems to be for comparative purposes. However, any leader of a council should read the research recommendation as youth unemployment across the sub-region is high and needs addressing.

Ipsoregulated

This website and associated newspapers adhere to the Independent Press Standardards Organisations's Editors' Code of Practice. If you have a compaint about editorial content which relates to inaccuracy or intrusion, then please contact the editor here. If you are dissatisfied with the response provided you can contact IPSO here